Actuating means for rotary drumtype vending machines



H. GALIN Erm. 2,687,825 ACTUATING MEANS FOR ROTARY DRUM-TYPE VENDINGMACHINES Aug. 3l, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 7, 1952 Aug. 31, 1954H. GALIN ETAL ACTUATING MEANS FOR ROTARY DRUM-TYPE VENDING MACHINESFiled May 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ..0 0 2v! WV a 3 M 5 H a /f/ nd HH--@Two w. ./VWu huhu s s w 5 a@ o 5 @u 4 Z; `7 2 INVENTORS GAL/N)LAw/eENcE PE/ss,

HARRY .1 f CFOO: ATT(,)RNEYS Patented Aug. 31, 1954 ACTUATING MEANS FORROTARY DRUM- TYPE VENDING MACHINES T Harry Galn, Yonkers, and LawrenceReiss,

T T New Rochelle, N. Y. i

Application May 7, 1952, Serial No. 286,581

This invention relates to coin-controlled operating mechanisms forvendingT machines of the type in which articles are dispensed from arotary drum. T 1

The invention may be lused in a vending machine having a cabinet inwhich there is at least one drum or magazine mounted for rotation on` `ahorizontal axis and having around its periphery compartments to hold theindividual articles to be dispensed, ythe drum also having on one sidean annular series of laterally projecting pins which correspond innumberT to the compartments. The invention embodies a coinreleasedmechanism which coacts with the pins and which may be actuated by handor by power to give the drum a step-bystep rotary'movement tosuccessively aline the compartments with an exit chute so as to vend ordispense one of the articles eachtime a coin is inserted in the machineand the mechanism is actuated.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, effective andpractical mechanism of the above indicated character for giving themagazine or drum a step-by-step rotary movement.

T With the above and other objects and advan-T tages in View, theinvention resides in the novel combinations and arrangements of partsand the novel features of construction hereinafter described andclaimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which show .thepresent preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical front-to-rear sectional view through portions of avending machine embodying the invention, parts being broken away andparts being conventionally shown; T

Fig. 2 is a detail View similar to portions of Fig. l but showing theparts of the drum actuating mechanism in different positions;

Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal sectionTtaken on line 3--3 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section taken on line 4 4 in Fig. 1, T

Referring more in detail to the drawingsthe numeral Ill denotesgenerally a suitable cabinet or casing which may have a rear wall II, atop wall l2 and a front wall I3. The upper portion i4 of the front wallmay be in the form of a hinged or removable door to give access to theinterior of the cabinet; and if desired, the top,

may have a suitable opening I5 closed by a hinged door or cover Iii.

In the upper portion of the casing is a cylin- -drical drum I1 mountedfor rotation about a horizontal 'axis I8 which may beTcarried by a 2Claims. (Cl. 221--82) suitable bracket or .brackets I9 fastened eitherto the back or to the top wall I2. The magazine or drum II may consistof two laterally spaced circular plates 20 connected by a cylindricalband 2| spaced inwardly from the edges of the plates and by an annularseries of regularly spaced radial plates 22. lThe latter in connectionwith the band 2I and the outer portions of the side plates 20 formoutwardly open compartments 23 of a size Tto hold the articles to bedispensed. As shown,` the peripheral compartments or receptacles 23 areintended to hold cylindrical bottles orcartons C for milk or a drink,and. when the machine is used to vend such packaged beverages, it willbe understood that at least the portion of the `cabinet containing thedrum may be suitably refrigerated. The articles C in the lower half ofthe drum may be retained in their compartments by an arcuate bottomplate 2li which has an opening in communication with the upper end of aneXit cr discharge chute 25 for the articles. On one side face of thedrum is an annular series of laterally projecting pins 26 disposedslightly inward of the outeredge the plate 2(1to which they are xed.These equally spaced pins 26 correspond in number to the compartmentsand serve as latch engaging lugs or shoulders as hereinafter described.

The drum controlling and actuating mechanism is mounted in the cabinetbeneath. the drum and may be supported on a forwardly and rear'- wardlyextending frame member 2l and the housing 28 of any suitable coinactuating mechanism. The member 2l is shown as a vertical plate disposedslightly outward of the plane of the drum plate 2B which carriesthe pins 2t. The housing 21 is shown as set into the front wall I3beneath the door lll, but the mechanism within the housing isdiagrammatically illustrated since it is old and the details of it formno part of the present invention. `It comprises a coin receiving chute29 leading `to a slug ejector 3U associated with a coin mechanism 3I.The latter includes a pul1- and-push rod or pliuiger 32 having` asuitable finger piece or handle 33 exposed at the iront of the cabinet.As is common, the coin mechanism locks the plunger 32 against movementuntil a proper coin is dropped into the outer exposed end ofthe chute2S. The coin mechanism includes a reversible pawl 3d and a coacting rackor ratchet 35 which necessitates a full stroke of the plunger oroperating member 32 in either direction when once it has been started ineither direction. While the above outlined `old mechanical means T mayvbe employed for operating the improved 46 fixed to the plate 21.

which the latchl 52 swings.

drum actuating means, it is to be understood that the latter may lbeoperated by any suitable electrical operating mechanism.

The improved drum controlling and actuating means includes a drumlocking element 36, a lockreleasing and drum-actuating unit 31 and asecond drum locking element 36, the latter preventing retrograderotation of the; drum. The element 36 is shown as a slidablespringprojected dog having a beveled end to coact with the drum pins 26. Itmay comprise a plate with a longitudinal slot 39 to receive beadedscrews 40. on an angle bracket 4l secured to thehousing 2:8',

so that the dog may slide in a direction radially of the drum pivot i8.The outerend of' the plate- 38 is bent at right angles to receive thethrust of a coil spring 42 interposed between it and an angle bearingsecured to the bracket plate 4 l the spring being held by a suitableguide rod as shown in Fig. 1. It will be seen that when the drum isrotated in the direction of the arrow A, in Fig. 1, the pins` 26 willengage the beveled end of thedog. 38 and push it against the spring asthey pass it, but the dog willy prevent backward movement of the drum.

The rst drum locking element 36 is also in the form of a slidablespring. projected dog with a beveled end to coact with the pins 26. Itis: shown as. an elongated upright plate or bar disposed against theframe plate 21 and formed with longitudinal slots 4-3 to receive beadedscrews 44. The lower end of the bar is bent: at right angles andapertured to receive the upper end of a rod 44, the lower end of thelatter be-l ing slidable in an aperture in an. angle bracket A collar 41is fixed to the rod 44 beneath the bent end of the dog or bar 36 and acoil spring surrounds the rod between the collar 41 andthe bracket 46 tonormally hold the upper end of the slidable lock 36 in the path oftravel of the pins 26. The upper end of the locking member 36 ispreferably beveled as shown at 49 to permit itto quickly clear orrelease the pin 26 with which it is engaged to normally prevent forward.movement of the lower part of the drum in thef` direction of the arrowA. The locking member 36 carries near its central portion a laterallyprojecting stud 56 engageable by a portion of' the unit 31 to. retractthelock and release the.. drum.

The unit 31 includes an upright lever pivoted between its ends at on theplate ory support 21. The upper arm or portion of the lever 31v carriesa pivotally mountedY spring pressed latch 52 to coact with the pins 26and alsoa laterally projecting arm 53 to coact with the stud 55'. Thearm 53 is laterally off-set and has at its end a fiat portion 54 toengage the stud 5U. andI retract the lock member 36 as: shown in Fig.2.,. when the lever 31 is actuated. The upper end portion 55 of thelever is enlarged: and from it is struck two earsv 55, to receive apivot', 5.1 on

The latchis a generally rectangular plate having at itslower end, spacedears to aline with ther ears 56 and toy receive the pivot pin so thatthe latch swings laterally with; respect to the lever 31. A coilK spring59 is on the central portion of the pivot. pin 51 andthrusts the upperportionv ot the latch toward the drum and in the path of` the. pins 26.One side edge oi the latch is straight.. and adapted to drop behind apin 26 whileits otherV side portion is outwardlyA curved to form. a cam50. To remove strain from the pivot 511 the latch is formed with a slot6i tofrcceive.` a.

guide pin or stud E2 xed to the lever. The lower end of the lever 31 issuitably associated with the means which actuates it; but as shown it isformed with a longitudinal slot 53 to receive a lateral pin 64 on theplunger 32 so as to provide a pivotal and sliding connection. A coilspring 65 may be connected between the upper arm of the lever 3-1 andthe housing 28 or other fixed part in the cabinet to move the lever toits normal position as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation fo the mechanism is apparent from the foregoing but willbe briefly described. With the parts in their normal position shown inFig. 1, a coin is deposited in the slot of chute Y 25 and will' causethe coin mechanism to unlock ory release the plunger 32. The latter is.then.v pulled outwardly to swing the lever 31 against the tension ofspring 65. part of the lever swings to the position shown in Fig. 2 thearm 53 engages and moves the stud 55: downwardly to. retractA the lockmember 36 from the' pin 26. with. which it was engaged and thus releasethe drum for forward rotation. At the same time the cam portion 69 ofthe latch 521 rides over.- thel end of the pin 2t next to the one which`is released by the lock member, the latch being thuszswung laterallyuntil its straight side edge drops in*` rear of the pin. When theoperating. member 32 is released, spring 65 pulls the lever back to itsnormal position, and as the: upper end ofY the lever swings forwardlythe latch 52, because o' its engagement with the lastmentioned piny willcause the drum to be turned. so that the article: CV inr thecompartment23 immediately in rear of the chute 25, will drop intov the latter. As,soon as the latch begins to move the drum` the arm; 53 permits the lock`ing-member 36 to move upwardly under the action of spring 45 so that thelock. will engage the next pin 26 and. prevent the drum from turningforwardly moreV than the peripheral length of one compartment, the dog38 preventing any retrograde rotation of the drum.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision haszbeen made forcarrying out the objects of the invention, and. while preferenceshavebeen disclosed, attention is invited to theV possibility of makingvariations within the scope` of. theV invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. Actuating means for a rotary drum-type vending machine having a drummounted for rotation on a horizontal axis and provided with peripheralcompartments to hold articles to be dropped one at a time into adischarge, a casing enclosingthe: drum and provided with an uprightsupportingv plate disposed beneath the drum at one side ofy the latter,an annular series of pins` associated with the. compartments andprojecting laterally from, said one side of the drurnan` upright drumlocking bar slidablymounted on said plate and having an upper end tocoact with said pins,` said bar being spring actuated in an upwarddirection, a stud fixed to. said bar andv projecting laterallytherefrom, an. upright actuating lever fulcrumed between .its ends onsaid plate to one side of said bar and having its upper end disposedadjacent the drum, an upright pin-engaginglatch plate ulcrumed at. itslower end' on one side of said lever and having at its upper portion alaterally curved cam to rideover the ends of said pins when the lever ismoved in one direction,4 spring means` urgingv the` upper portionofthelatch plate to- As the upper Ward said lever and into the plate of saidpins, an arm rigid with the upper portion of said lever below said latchplate and projecting laterally from the lever for engagement with saidstud to move said locking bar out of the path of said pins when thelever is moved in said one direction, means associated with the lowerend of the lever to move it in said one direction. and spring means formoving the lever in the opposite direction.

2.` The structure of claim 1 in which said means for moving the lever insaid one direc- Number Name Date 770,230 Forrest Sept. 13, 1904 942,117Weber Dec. '7, 1909 1 1,046,502 shrum Dec. 10, 1912

